Kiddipedia
Dr Jenny Nash, Head of Education Impact, LEGO Education
School closures across Australia have involved parents in their child’s education in new and lasting ways. For parents of students in hybrid learning, particularly those in primary school, it can be stressful – even daunting – to recreate an engaging, joyful, and effective learning environment at home.
Yet continuing learning at home might be easier – and more playful – than you think. Here’s how a learning through play approach can engage children of all ages in their learning, creating lifelong learners in and out of the classroom:
-
Motivate a love of learning that never stops
Joy lies at the heart of play, so when you combine learning through play you can rethink learning to be a fun, joyful, and meaningful experience that motivates students and inspires a love of learning.
Play sparks curiosity and creativity in kids of all ages, and when brought into the learning environment in a purposeful and intentional way, it provides students with a way to be curious in their own learning, giving them agency to explore ideas, and allowing them to learn how to learn — which leads them to want to learn more. Student engagement has been particularly challenging with the disruption to in-person learning but learning through play is a powerful way to excite and motivate students no matter where the learning happens.
-
Inspire creativity and discovery
Children are naturally curious and imaginative, but when we are too focused on finding ‘the one right answer’, we can restrict ideas, innovation, and discovery.
Playful learning widens the number of possibilities and conclusions that can be drawn, helping children work through problems and practice critical thinking. This is the idea behind LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential, which is designed to encourage problem-solving through storytelling, while developing social, cognitive, and creative skills at the same time.
Using play-based resources that provide the scaffolds for emotional expression through physical play, storytelling, or art, is invaluable to holistic development. It’s also an important characteristic of learning through play to help children find meaning in what they are learning. For example, one SPIKE Essential lesson tasks students with creating an animal alarm to help Leo, who doesn’t want to miss any animals walking by his campsite while he’s asleep. The students are helping Leo, which makes it more relatable and personal to them as they work to solve the problem. And of course, that ‘aha’ moment on their child’s face when they discover something themselves is a welcome sight for parents!
-
It is a catalyst for self-confidence
Confidence is a mindset. Playful learning empowers children to dive into unknown areas and take risks, which builds their confidence and curiosity. It encourages children to step out of their comfort zones and try new things to master a new topic or acquire new skills.
Most importantly, it cultivates an understanding that failure is a part of learning. Open-ended play relieves the pressure of reaching a specific answer or result, and instead provides a safe space that grants freedom to test and try decision-making to ultimately learn from build resilience.
Studies show student confidence is a key determinant of overall academic performance and lifelong success, so it is important to encourage and cultivate this quality throughout their educational journey.
-
Prepare children for the future of work
The Education Commission estimated that by 2030, more than half of the world’s youth will not have the skills or qualifications to participate in an emerging, global workforce. As the pace of technological change accelerates and the job market evolves, playful learning provides a solution to equip children with 21st century skills.
It is important for kids to experience learning in an authentic way. This means we need to rethink learning by creating these opportunities to connect ideas, nurture creativity and apply knowledge and skills. Playful learning experiences provide a way for students to naturally discover and engage in these learning experiences. And when students are engaged, learning becomes more motivating, memorable and meaningful.
While hybrid learning can be challenging for everyone, it can also be an opportunity to incorporate more playful learning experiences to help children develop a broader set of skills, build confidence in their learning, and prepare them for the future.
Dr Jenny Nash, Head of Educational Impact at LEGO Education for publishing
